I’m Not Okay with This…(am I?): Ethical Challenges in Person-centered Care

Saturday, April 26, 2025

4:15 PM – 5:30 PM

Presenter(s)

Ashley Curry, MD

Medical Director - Access Transformative Outreach Program
Denver Health
Denver, Colorado
Tanya Michelle Gershmel, BS, CPFS, CNA, QMAP

Peer Support Specialist II
Denver Health
Denver, Colorado
Allison Forrest, LCSW, LAC

Manager Community-Based Services, Access Transformative Outreach Program Supervisor
Denver Health
Denver, Colorado

This workshop offers a reflective space for clinicians to explore the emotional and ethical challenges of providing person-centered care to individuals with substance use disorders. Through case studies, guided discussions, and peer dialogue, participants will examine the impact of patient autonomy on clinical decision-making, confront dilemmas such as balancing harm reduction with abstinence, and develop strategies to navigate emotional fatigue. Attendees will gain skills to sustain a person-centered approach while fostering emotional resilience and collaboration within their care teams.

Learning Objectives:

Learners will be able to:

Identify the ethical dilemmas highlighted by a person-centered approach to substance use disorder treatment.
Apply concepts of harm reduction and person-centered care to complex cases of substance use disorders.
Create a plan to remain patient-centered as we navigate challenging emotions, considering supports already in place or those that still need to be explored.

Disclosure(s):

Ashley Curry, MD: No financial relationships to disclose

Tanya Michelle Gershmel, BS, CPFS, CNA, QMAP: No financial relationships to disclose

Allison Forrest, LCSW, LAC: No financial relationships to disclose